Miracle fall short at Lakeland

By special to the Fort Myers News-Press

LAKELAND — A two-run double off the bat of Deik Scram in the bottom of the fifth inning Wednesday night proved to be the difference as the Lakeland Flying Tigers survived for the second straight night in a 3-2 win over the Fort Myers Miracle.

The Lakeland bullpen shut the door on the Miracle in the final four innings on just one hit.

Fort Myers struck first on Wednesday as Brian Dinkelman walked and later scored on a fielder’s choice from Juan Portes.

Lakeland tied things up an inning later with its own unearned run in the second. A throwing error by Toby Gardenhire at short led to Mark Haske scoring on an infield single by Shawn Roof.

Dinkelman gave the Miracle a 2-1 advantage with his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to right, in the Miracle fifth.

A walk to Rafael Mendez and a double from Joel Roa proved costly in the Lakeland fifth as Scram belted the difference-maker just moments later.

The Miracle head home for a nine-game homestand beginning with the Tampa Yankees tonight.